FIFA ready to map out pathway to peace between A-League clubs and FFA over power struggle

A ROAD to resolution is in sight in the governance war that has gripped Australian football, with FIFA poised to map out a pathway to peace between the A-League clubs and Football Federation Australia.

A ROAD to resolution is in sight in the governance war that has gripped Australian football, with FIFA poised to map out a pathway to peace between the A-League clubs and Football Federation Australia.

Three days of intensive talks in Sydney between a FIFA delegation and various Australian stakeholders concluded on Thursday, with the expectation that within two to three weeks FIFA will detail the makeup, terms of reference and timetable for a working group to redraw the power structure at the head of the game here.

The joint FIFA-Asian Football Confederation delegation wrapped up its consultations early, with its members returning to FIFA HQ in Zurich to sketch out the working group.

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It promises to conclude two years of dispute over how to widen the voting structure of FFA’s annual Congress, with the clubs and the professional players seeking more say and the FFA board resisting what it sees as too big a dilution of its power.

Remarkably most of the stakeholders involved left the final round of talks on Thursday with a positive attitude, in marked contrast to the acrimony that has accompanied many of the previous negotiations.

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop (left) and chairman Steven Lowy.

The working group FIFA establishes may yet prove contentious, with the clubs seeking an independent chairman and for FFA to be sidelined from involvement. It’s understood that FIFA has indicated it will consider an independent chairman, likely to have a casting vote, with a select number of stakeholders drawn from across the game.

But the delegates from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation indicated to several stakeholders that the group will be expected to move quickly, with both the clubs and the players’ association seeking to have it produce a complete set of recommendations by June.

The working group is seen as a circuit breaker after the impasse that has pitched the clubs against the FDA board and in particular its chairman, Steven Lowy.

The group will produce a model for a widened Congress, giving more power to the clubs, the professional players and women’s football, and potentially to include representation for interest groups such as clubs below the A-League, referees and coaches.

FFA will be expected to acquiesce to its findings, along with the various stakeholders, with the clubs having warned FIFA that they face bankruptcy unless the governance issue is resolved quickly and focus switched to addressing the downturn in A-League crowds and TV audiences.

“At a joint meeting of major stakeholders today, the visiting FIFA/AFC officials thanked each group for its contribution and urged everyone involved to continue the positive dialogue as part of the review process,” FFA said in a statement.

“FIFA will now decide on the terms of reference for the Congress Review Working Group, including its composition, mandate and timelines. A decision is expected from FIFA within two to three weeks.”